Take the stress out of summer
YOUR summer holiday is a longawaited treat. Something to be savoured. A hard-earned opportunity to relax. Isn’t it?
In fact, many of us secretly dread going away on holiday. The stress of the journey. The worry about whether your chosen location will live up to your hopes. But, instead of worrying, try these simple tips to make your holiday truly rejuvenating . . .
PLAN — but don’t overplan. You can feel more in control if you make sure you have all the maps, guide books and details for alternative routes you need well before you set off. But don’t get bogged down in lists. Allow a little room for spontaneity. After all, the joy of travelling is often found down an unexpected back street or in a small, undiscovered piazza.
MAKE sure you get enough sleep. In the whirlwind of packing, organising and travelling, you can miss out on hours of shut-eye. Many of us think we’ll catch up when we get away. And while a lie-in can certainly help, be aware that it can take up to three days to recover from a sleep deficit and unwind from stress.
So ease yourself into your break. Listen to your body, and perhaps schedule more physically intensive activities towards the middle of your holiday. Make sure you’ve got a day or two when you get back, too, so there’s a gentle transition from holiday mode back to work mode.
ON HOLIDAY, start your day with a mindful stroll. Make time for yourself. Why not take a leisurely walk on the beach? Listen to the waves, feel the sand between your toes and focus on your new environment. Really savour all the beauty that is around you.
It should help you shake off any last bits of stress you’re still carrying from home — a great start to the day.
LEAVE your work phone or laptop at home. If you don’t have them, you won’t be tempted to look at your emails or check up on that project you’ve been managing. The mere presence of your laptop can remind you of work. See your holiday for what it should be: a full mental break.
BUT don’t be afraid to just stay at home! Before you book your plane tickets or load up the roof rack, ask yourself if you really want to go away — or is it just an obligation you’re fulfilling for a relative?
Will this holiday make you happy? Or will it stretch your finances and stress you out? A proper holiday can be truly physically and mentally healing, but don’t get locked into something that won’t feel like a break.